Crossing apartheid’s barriers

Press, 31 May 1980, Page 16

Crossing apartheid’s barriers

A' By

HUGH CARNEGY

in Port Elizabeth

Is South African rugbjf taking steps towards total racial integration or nbt? f That heated question surrounds the British: Lions rugby team who recently broke inter-? national anti-apartheid: sporting boycotts against this country when they; began an 18-match tour in* South Africa. ■ - The British rugby unions decided to under-, take the tour — their first ; here since 1974 and the first national rugby side to visit South Africa in four years — because they believed renewed contact would aid integration. But four white brothers in Port Elizabeth, who are deeply involved with black rugby teams, fervently disagree and oppose the Lions’ visit. Along with their colleagues in the non-racial,'

c;-' but mainly black, South African: va. Rugby Union (S.A.R.U.), . they claim to represent -the opinion of , * SO. per J cent -of the coun- ’ try’s black majority. \‘: f.Of; the relatively small ‘ number of South African / blacks who play rugby, ■' ‘ most live along the south--east. coast around Port.' Elizabeth and East London ■-.? ; arid belong to S.A.R.U., ? clubs.

• S.A.R.U. refuses to join the South African Rugby Board (5.A.R.8.), the whit e-dominated body which hosts the Lions tour and which includes the black South African Rugby Association (S.A.R.A.). .• S.A.R.U. argues that the S.A.R.A. teams are weak

because of a. shortage of players caused by a preference by blacks to play for S.A.R.U. sides. They reject the S.A.R.B. whose structure ■• they, say is riot! aimed? af creating multi-racial rugby at air”,, levels; .;. >.:■ S.A.R.U. gained their ’ greatest ' - publicity . four years ago wheh two East- “ ero Province players, one of whom'was'a'trialist for

the national Springbok side, quit white rugby and joined the organisation in. Port Elizabeth. ’ To have two. top. players defect to an unrecognised union sent shock waves through South v Africa’s rugby establishment Dan “Cheeky” Watson, .! a speedy wing, almost cap- 1

ped for his country, along with his brother Valance, caused newspaper headlines and were acclaimed in black townships wherever they played; With their brothers, Gain and Ronnie, they 'swapped the lush well ■ watered turf of the white : clubs for the pitted, stony grounds found in the black townships. They were banned by the S.A.R.B. and fell into trouble,-with the police for entering black areas without a permit as required by South Africa’s apartheid laws. Fluent Xhosa speakers, the main local black language, the four: are still playing for S.A.R.U. clubs and are committed to it. Valance said: “In Eastern Province, S.A.R.U. has 24, senior clubs, whereas the S.A.R.B. has eight.

“We draw more than 10,000 spectators to our inter-provincial S.A.R.U. matches in the townships, whereas the team that played the Lions only gets about 4000 for its provincial games.” Valance also praised the standard of S.A.R.U. players, many of whom he Said rated with white provincial players. At the end of a training session on a bumpy pitch in New Brighton he added: “The only reason for the little change there has been, has been isolation. The Lions have made a mess by coming out here.”

Dan Qequ, treasurer Kwaru, a Port Elizabeth S.A.R.U. affiliate said of S.AJt.A. players: “We call them 'the puppet lot. What we demand is basic equality.”